IF you are in the Yes movement and want to let fellow activists and independence supporters know what’s going on then The National’s Yes DIY pages are the places to tell your stories.
It certainly worked for Saor Alba Pipes and Drums, the Yes movement’s own pipe band, whose recent appeal for new members featured on this page and has attracted interest all the way from Brazil, where a confused piper got his Indys mixed up.
We told how one big hurdle for Soar Alba had been overcome with news that people who were already members of registered competition bands were free to also join Saor Alba which is what might be described as an “occasional” band as they don’t enter competitions and only turn out in support of Yes movement rallies and marches.
Band manager Jim Edwards said: “Thanks to a recent hugely successful recruitment campaign, the band now have 10 new pipers, three drummers and five band assistants, with more applications still coming in. For anyone interested, get in touch via email – saoralbapd@gmail.com.”
Edwards added: “We’re over the moon with the response. More players means an even bigger sound, and we can’t wait to get back to marching on the road to independence.
“As soon as they can march, Saor Alba Pipes and Drums, the Indy movement’s very own pipe band will be making an even bigger noise all over Scotland.”
Edwards also wanted to express a big thanks to everyone who helped put the campaign together, as well as the wider online Indy family who shared it so widely.
He explained: “This was such an indy team effort – from yourselves at The National starting it all off with a great story, to band members and friends and Yes groups all over Scotland sharing our posts on social media. Special thanks have to go to one of our pipers, JR Ewen who put together all the videos and visuals, which really made the campaign stand out.”
In fact, the campaign went global, with some responses which Edwards described as “interesting”. He said: “I think my favourite is the guy who got in contact from Brazil, and said ‘I play the pipes and I’d like to join the Band’.
“I was a bit worried about his commute from Brazil to Scotland on a regular basis, so I had an online chat with him. Turns out he’s a big motorsports fan and he thought we were playing at the Indy 500!”
Saor Alba are continuing with their regular virtual piping and drumming practices, to make sure everyone is tuned up and ready for when they can get out on the streets again. The band online shop is always open for business, and now with loads of great Yes/Aye and band merchandise reduced in their Mad March Sale, which has just started at saoralbapd.scot/shop.
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